As they entered the central square, Yueling was struck by the sheer scale of the celebration. The Dark Realm's inhabitants, once wary of her presence, now smiled and cheered as she passed. Xie Feng's influence, it seemed, had won them over.

At the center of the square, a magnificent cake stood tall, adorned with phoenix-shaped candles and edible gold leaf. Yueling gasped in wonder, feeling like a true queen.

Xie Feng led her to the throne, where a surprise awaited her. Fenghuang, the Phoenix Queen, stood beside Xie Feng, a warm smile on her face.

"Happy birthday, Yueling," Fenghuang said, her voice like music. "I've come to reveal a secret. You are not just the wife of Xie Feng, but a true heir of the Phoenix Realm. Your 21st birthday marks the beginning of your journey to claim your rightful place."

Just then, a commotion at the entrance caught everyone's attention. Yueling's parents, the Emperor and Empress, walked into the square, their faces stern and worried.

"Yueling, our daughter," the Emperor called out, his voice booming across the square. "We've come to take you home. Your place is in the Mortal Realm, not here in the darkness."

Yueling's heart skipped a beat as she faced her parents, torn between her love for Xie Feng and her duty to her family and kingdom. Xie Feng's eyes narrowed, his grip on her hand tightening.

"Choose, Yueling," he whispered. "Choose your destiny."

Yueling knelt down, her head bowed in respect. "Father, I would like to go back to you, to return to the Mortal Realm and resume my life as your daughter. But I can't," she said, her voice firm. "I am now a heir of the Phoenix Realm, and the wife of Xie Feng. My destiny is here, in this realm."

The Emperor's face darkened, his eyes flashing with anger. "You will not betray our family and our kingdom for a dark sorcerer and a false title," he growled.

But Yueling stood firm, her eyes locked on her father's. "I am not betraying you, Father. I am following my heart and my destiny. I will not abandon Xie Feng or the Phoenix Realm."

Xie Feng stepped forward, his eyes blazing with pride and love. "She has made her choice, Your Majesty. Yueling is mine, now and forever."

The Empress stepped forward, her eyes filled with tears. "Our daughter is lost to us," she whispered. "We have lost her to the darkness."

But Yueling rose to her feet, her head held high. "I am not lost, Mother. I am found. I have found my true self, my true love, and my true destiny."

The Emperor and Empress looked at each other, then back at Yueling. For a moment, it seemed like they would continue to argue, but then, something in their faces softened. They opened their arms, and Yueling fell into their embrace.

"We just want you to be happy, our daughter," the Empress whispered, tears streaming down her face.

The Emperor nodded, his voice gruff with emotion. "We'll support you, no matter what. You're still our daughter, and we love you."

As they hugged, Fenghuang stepped forward, a warm smile on her face. "Well done, Yueling," she said. "You've chosen your path, and now, it's time to claim your true power."

Fenghuang raised her hand, and a brilliant light enveloped Yueling. The air seemed to shimmer and dance around her, as if the very fabric of reality was bending to accommodate her newfound identity.

When the light faded, Yueling stood tall, her eyes blazing with a fierce inner light. She was no longer just a princess, or a wife, or a heir. She was a true Phoenix, born of fire and magic, with the power to shape her own destiny.

Just as Yueling was basking in the glow of her newfound power, a dark and ominous presence filled the air. The ground trembled, and the skies grew dark, as if night itself was descending upon the land.

The Demon Emperor, Xie Feng's father, emerged from the shadows, his eyes blazing with fury and malevolence. His presence seemed to draw the very light out of the air, leaving only an oppressive darkness in its wake.

"So, you think you can defy me, Yueling?" he growled, his voice like thunder. "You think you can claim the power of the Phoenix Realm and still stand against me?"

Yueling stood tall, her heart pounding in her chest, but her spirit unbroken. "I am not afraid of you," she said, her voice clear and steady. "I am the true heir of the Phoenix Realm, and I will not be intimidated."

Xie Feng stepped forward, his eyes flashing with anger. "Father, leave her alone. She is under my protection."

But the Demon Emperor just laughed, a sound that sent shivers down the spines of all who heard it. "You think you can protect her, Xie Feng? You think you can stand against me? I will crush you both, and rule over all the realms myself."